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Radio Cuts Local News

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Molokai’s only radio station will no longer air local news updates. The station’s owner, Honolulu-based Ohana Broadcast Company (OBC), made the decision two weeks ago.

KMKK 102.3, which plays traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music, had aired local news briefs three times a day since it began four years ago, though technical problems had kept the news from airing for the last month.

“I’m disappointed that they wouldn’t feel that Molokai needs local radio news,” said former news director David Lichtenstein, who was let go when the decision was made.

Lichtenstein said he suspects OBC is shifting its focus to target listeners on Oahu -- at the expense of those on Molokai. KMKK broadcasts from a tower in Maunaloa and its signal reaches windward Oahu.

Sally for the Seat

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Sally for the Seat

The County of Maui mayor’s ballot has the Friendly Isle all abuzz now that Molokai’s own Patricia Hammond is in the running. The vivacious candidate, known around town as Sally Chow, is Molokai’s only contender to step into the race among 12 other hopefuls this election season.

Hammond made it on the ballot in the knick of time – submitting her paperwork just minutes before deadline on July 20. “I wanted to show that anybody can do it, without help,” she said.

Mayoral Plans

While it’s Hammond’s first time entering the political arena, her fiery ambition and love for Molokai are evident, giving her a push over other candidates, she said. She has previous experience with the government, having worked briefly with the U.S. Census Bureau and served as a foster parent.

to get more involved – get ‘em out there to vote!”

Family Affair

Hammond moved from Oahu to Molokai in 1992, a place the mother of five calls home with husband Chris. Since then, Hammond became a licensed massage therapist, and operated Molokai’s Little Grass Shack with her husband, where she sold crowd-pleasing fish tacos and healthy food offerings out of a trailer. Earlier this year, they closed the Shack citing the lagging economy.

Hammond recently set up shop at the old Midnite Inn in Kaunakakai for her campaign headquarters. Delicately painted by her `ohana and supporters, the outside walls have been transformed into a canvas of brightly-painted flowers and a window donning a hopeful message: “Be the Change, Vote Sally 4 Mayor.”

Although Hammond may lack some of the qualifications other candidates possess, she says she makes up for it in her dedication to get Molokai and all of Maui County back on track.
“If anything I want to show how easy it is to get a foot in the door,” she said. “So many people on Molokai would be good for this job. I’m trying to pave the way for them.”

MECO Raises Rates to Customer Dismay

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved a interim rate increase for Maui Electric Company (MECO) last week that went into effect Sunday.

MECO applied for a permanent increase of 9.7 percent in September. While the PUC is still considering that application, they issued an interim decision allowing the company to raise rates for customers on Molokai, Maui and Lanai by 3.3 percent for a $10.3 million revenue increase.

The typical household on Molokai will pay $5.21 more per month, bringing the total monthly bill to $187.67, according to a release from MECO last week based on a monthly usage of 500 kilowatt hours. The typical household on Maui will now pay $186.02, while the typical household on Lanai will pay $196.87.

More Than Just Hula

Friday, July 30th, 2010

The coconut wire is very active and efficient. While residing most of the time in Molokai, I was on the mainland when I heard that Lori Higa, my first kumu, was no longer teacher at Home Pumehana. As a senior, I would like to thank Lori for all the wonderful history, culture and love she shared with me and others in our small but close class. We had many wonderful experiences such as field trips, shows, birthdays, births and even deaths of our family members. She showed us what aloha means. She accepted us all whether haole, Portuguese, Japanese, Filipino and Hawaiian. It did not matter the color of your skin or the ability to dance. She spent many hours out of class time taking us on field trips, extra practices and celebrations of all kinds.

Mahalo Nui Loa for Kokua

Friday, July 30th, 2010

On behalf of the Nojima Ohana, we extend our warmest aloha and deepest mahalo’s for your generous kokua, abundant aloha, sincerest well wishes and kind prayers after the passing of our beloved Dora “The Kolohe One” Keola Nojima (Flores) to the following families, individuals, couples, groups:  Na Ohana Nojima, Pascual, Pelekai, Po`aha, Starkey – Mr. and Mrs. William Davis, Bro.

Mahalo for Family Help

Friday, July 30th, 2010

On behalf of the late Clarence Eleu Kalilikane Sr. and family, we would like to thank our loving and supportive mother Addie Delos Reyes for being there for us and for supporting us from the beginning to the very end. Thank you for being there when we needed you most, we appreciate everything you did for us. We love you Mom. Thank you so much Eddie DelosReyes our stepfather for supporting us and for letting Mom be with us through all that we’ve been through with my dad. Also thank you so much Mom for your hard work. We appreciate it a lot. We also would like to thank the Espaniola, the Villa, the Dumaran, the Torres-Batara and the Starkey families for taking care of our little ones while we were going back and forth to Oahu to take care of Daddy. Love you guys.

Sailing to Empowerment

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Youth In Motion News Release

Youth in Motion’s Ocean and Sailing program will commence on Saturday, August 14, 2010. Participants will learn to sail, stand up paddle, American Red Cross learn-to-swim levels, basic water safety and kayak.
 
YIM is also reviving the festival “A Celebration of Youth Opportunities” or “Na Opio Hana Pa`a” in 2011 at Malama Park. YIM is looking for volunteers and donations for the Sailing and Ocean awareness program and the festival for 2010/2011. All ages are welcome but for those under 11 years old, adult supervision will be required.

More Time for Learning

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Community Contributed

By Lydia Trinidad

In a time of unfortunate educational cutbacks and furloughs, Kualapu`u School is able to expand their hours of instruction starting this school year.

The initiative to expand learning opportunities and the school day was unanimously approved by the Charter School Review Panel on July 8, 2010, who was impressed by the school’s planning which extended back to July 2009. 

Starting the first day of school, Wednesday, August 4, the extra hour will give students additional academic and enrichment classes.  In addition, bus service will be adjusted as needed. Here are some details parents and students will need to know.

Proposed Council Elections Change Delayed

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Efforts to change how Maui County council members are elected – replacing at-large elections with single-member districts and redrawing district lines -- stalled this month as council members opted to delay a decision until next year.

HI Finest Comes Home

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

HI Finest Comes Home

Community Contributed

By Paulele Alcon

Well last week I came home and opened up a small shop in my dad’s insurance office to offer the island an official location to pick up the newest HI Finest Gear – 75B Ala Malama in Kaunakakai Town. I just wanted to set a location and time where the island can go to and fetch the newest gear. I had gotten a few offers to sell my gear out of some stores on Molokai but I chose not to because I wanted Molokai to feel special, like they were getting HI Finest from the source, somewhere where I can get direct feedback from the community about what they think about HI Finest. It also allows me to offer HI Finest at the lowest possible price without anyone taking a cut from my hard work.
 
For HI Finest and its future on Molokai, I plan on continuing to build the brand and products and offer them in the HI Finest store. I also have a whole bunch of concerts already in the works for the island, as well as community events to help bring awareness to the kids and youth of Molokai that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I'm also putting together some fun events such as a Kick Ball Tournament to bring some memories to the island. I ultimately want to share with the island the things HI Finest are doing on Oahu.


 
Our HI Finest goals are ultimately to be Hawaii's top local brand in the fashion industry, as well as the top promoting company in Hawaii offering local/reggae concert and events. I feel we have the ideas, network, resources, and drive to do so and I am pretty determined to reach it. Ultimately we want to see HI Finest around the entire state as well as on locals outside of Hawaii. We just want people to be proud to be from Hawaii and strive to be the best they can be. We have a whole lot going on – three weekly events at the Shack Waikiki (the top bar/club in Hawaii), a couple huge concerts coming up in Oahu, Kona, Molokai, and we’re about to take a dip into the music industry on the management side. We also have our gear available in Sears Ala Moana, Razors Pearl Ridge, and No Fear Windward, Kapolei, Haleiwa. We are also building an online store (www.HIFINEST.com) so the rest of the islands and the world are able to pick up some gear.
 
History of HI Finest
HI Finest was started in December 2009 by myself, Paulele Alcon. I soon partnered with my best friend Byron Tagupa and had help from family, friends and especially my parents, Pancho and Ella Alcon. Byron and I were both born and raised on Molokai and are Class of 2002 graduates. We both graduated from the University of Hawaii in 2007 and always dreamt of doing this. From the start we have produced over 50 different designs and color and over 6,000 pieces of shirts and hats. HI Finest was brought into the promoting industry by our dear friend Micah G and now promotes out of Shack Waikiki and has been a major part of a bunch of huge concerts and events on Oahu and Molokai and soon the rest of Hawaii. HI Finest are worn by top music bands such as Katchafire, The Green, Hot Rain, Fiji, Mana`o Company, Micah G & More, and by top fighters, body surfers, body boarders, surfers, UH athletes, and pro football players – the list goes on. We plan on continuing our journey in the fashion and entertainment industry here in Hawaii and want to someday, near in the future, be at the top.
 
We are so proud to call Molokai home and will ensure to always keep Molokai tightly in the loop of all things we do. Please stop by the shop and support HI Finest as well as stay updated to what we are up to by checking out HIFINEST.com, as well as becoming our friends on Facebook (Hawaii's Finest). We like to thank our family and friends as well as the entire island for the support. There is no place like Molokai -- the support the island has shown is hands-down second to none.
 
HI Finest is open Monday-Friday 8-4 and certain Saturdays 8-12 when new gear arrives.